Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्येवमुक्त्वा तु विधूय पुण्यं निजं स तन्निंदनकर्मणा वै । जग्राह शक्तिं परमाद्भुतां च स तारको युद्धवतां वरिष्ठः
brahmovāca | ityevamuktvā tu vidhūya puṇyaṃ nijaṃ sa tanniṃdanakarmaṇā vai | jagrāha śaktiṃ paramādbhutāṃ ca sa tārako yuddhavatāṃ variṣṭhaḥ
Brahmā sprach: Nachdem er so gesprochen hatte, schüttelte Tāraka – der Vornehmste unter den Kriegern – durch diesen Akt der Lästerung sein eigenes angesammeltes Verdienst ab; und dann ergriff er eine überaus wunderbare Speerwaffe für den Kampf.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It highlights a Shaiva ethical principle: nindā (reviling the sacred) is spiritually corrosive and can destroy one’s accumulated puṇya, showing how adharma quickly eclipses inner strength even when outer power increases.
The verse contrasts devotion and reverence with blasphemy; in Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga worship), purity of speech and attitude are treated as part of upacāra (right conduct), without which external acts lose their spiritual fruit.
Guarding speech as a vrata (discipline) is implied; practitioners may reinforce this with daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and mindful reverence during Linga worship to preserve and deepen puṇya.